In this episode, Stephanie opens up about some very strange occurrences that happened while she was at her grandmother’s bedside in hospital and following her grandmother’s passing. She talks about how these experiences were not explainable to her and took her from not believing in anything beyond life to thinking there may be more to life than we know. 

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www.compassionincaregiving.com

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In this episode, Julia Freifeld takes us through her journey caring for her husband with multiple system atrophy (MSA )which involved a rapid and difficult decline requiring all of her support and care. Julia talks about what helped her during these years and her memoir, which she wrote after journaling her emotions in secret for many years. She also talks about exploring new relationships after the passing of her spouse. 

About Julia:

Author and artist, Julia Freifeld grew up in Los Angeles, and moved to Raleigh in 1996. She was a caregiver for her husband Mark, who was diagnosed with multiple system atrophy (MSA) and recently authored a published memoir, “In Each Other’s Bones: A Memoir of Love, Loss and Living”, which was a number one bestseller on Amazon and based off her journal entries from her caregiving years. 

Find Julia:

https://juliafreifeld.com/

*The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.*

Visit us on our website:

www.compassionincaregiving.com

 For more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving

In this episode, social worker, Courtney Sas, discusses her experiences working with patients who have struggled with navigating the healthcare system and navigating supports and resources. She and Stephanie discuss the need for patients and caregivers to often advocate, speak the native language and have awareness of the healthcare system in order to receive the best support and care possible. Gaps and injustices of the system are discussed with general suggestions of how we can do better.

About Courtney:

Courtney Sas, MSW, RSW, MBE, is a clinical social worker who specializes in chronic kidney disease at a University of Toronto teaching hospital. In 2017, she graduated with a Master’s degree in Bioethics from Harvard Medical School. In addition to the Masters coursework, Courtney was an intern with the ethics support service at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Courtney is a seminar leader and teaches ethics to undergraduate medical students at the University of Toronto and she is also an Adjunct lecturer at the University of Toronto, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work.

Courtney’s article:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/opinion-hospital-patients-visitation-policies-1.5815267

*The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.*

Visit us on our website:

www.compassionincaregiving.com

 For more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving

*Disclaimer- this episode discusses the dying process*

In this episode, Brian Smith discusses what he wishes he knew to prepare for his wife’s dying process and passing and how his life has shifted following her passing and after many years of being her caregiver. 

About Brian:

Brian Smith is a teaching professor at the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, IN, USA.

He was the primary caregiver for his wife, Demetria, who was diagnosed with primary progressive multiple sclerosis in early 2006 and passed away in January 2023. They have an 8-year old son, Jude, who motivated and inspired Brian to continue his caregiving journey. In his free time, Brian is a CrossFit enthusiast.

Find Brian on Instagram: @bsmith_nd

*The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.*

Visit us on our website:

www.compassionincaregiving.com

 For more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving

Sometimes we are faced with caring for a loved one alongside others who we may not get along with, have a difficult past with, have a complex history with. This may be someone we prefer not to speak to or communicate with and suddenly we are faced with having to provide care with them and speak with/ see them on a regular basis. 

In this episode, Stephanie uses a real case example to demonstrate how caregiving with someone you may have a complex relationship with can be navigated to achieve the best possible outcome for you and the loved one you are caring for. 

*The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.*

Visit us on our website:

www.compassionincaregiving.com

For more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving

Have you ever had the following thoughts:

-How can I feel so overwhelmed right now if I am not physically present in the caregiving process on a daily basis?
-Is there something wrong with me for feeling all these emotions when I am not always there with my loved one?

-My loved one is cared for but I still think about being a caregiver ALL THE TIME and am truly consumed by it.

-I feel so guilty for feeling this overwhelmed because there are so many who are always in person caregiving and I am not. 

In this episode, Stephanie talks about being a caregiver who may not always be present in person but may be consumed by the emotional side or ongoing awareness of the caregiving role which can be all consuming.

*The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.*

Visit us on our website:

www.compassionincaregiving.com 

For more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving

In this episode, psychotherapist Roxanne Francis talks about the incredible challenges she has faced and gotten through as a caregiver of her mother and children. She discusses the importance of following your internal compass and trusting your inner voice while facing challenges. 

About Roxanne Francis: Roxanne is an award-winning Registered Social Worker & Psychotherapist.  She is the CEO of Francis Psychotherapy & Consulting Services, where she runs a busy group therapy practice. She is also a keynote speaker, leadership coach and a corporate consultant who addresses issues related to women’s issues, race & equity, mental health, parenting as well as wellness at work.  Roxanne supports, and mentors other therapists in the field and is also the media’s go-to mental health expert, providing answers to many of life’s difficult questions.

Find Roxanne on her website: http://www.francispsychotherapy.com

How to find Roxanne on Instagram: @francispsychotherapy

*The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.*

Visit us on our website:

www.compassionincaregiving.com 

For more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving

In this episode, Jacquelyn Shapiro shares her experiences as a daughter of FTD in a very vulnerable way. She and Stephanie compare their experiences having mothers with this very difficult diagnosis and the daily rollercoaster it can entail. Jacquelyn also shares her knowledge and details surrounding the genetic components and advancements behind the disease. 

About Jacquelyn: Jackie was born and raised in New York to Russian-Jewish immigrant parents. In 2020, her mom was diagnosed with bvFTD at the age of 56 when Jackie was only 30 years old. Her family later learned that her mom is a carrier of GRN (FTD gene), causing FTD. Though the disease is genetic, her family had no known history of dementia. Today, Jackie has become an advocate for genetic testing and support for caregivers. 

Find Jacquelyn on instagram: @ftdalovestory

*The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.*

Visit us on our website:

www.compassionincaregiving.com

For more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving

Did you have a family member who had supported you who is no longer showing up? Did you have a friend around you in this crazy ride who has fallen away? Has your ‘partner in crime’ in all of this passed away? 

This is an element of grief in caregiving that no one talks about. And it is SO hard. You attach yourself to others and finally have someone to go through this with- so what happens when they are no longer there with you? It HURTS and it is so hard. 

In this episode, Stephanie dives into this topic and provides her own personal perspective on this as she has been there too. 

*The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.*

Visit us on our website:

www.compassionincaregiving.com

For more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving

Does this sound familiar? You try and you try and you are practically SCREAMING to have your voice heard as the caregiver in the healthcare system. Yet you can never find the right person to speak to, you wait for hours on end to either receive a phone call or meet with a practitioner and are still met with nothing. 

In this episode, Stephanie shares her knowledge about how you can finally contact that practitioner, have your voice heard or let the team know what is truly important to both you and your loved one. Having worked in both inpatient and outpatient hospital settings and having been a caregiver herself, Stephanie compiles her knowledge to give you her best tips. 

*The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.*

Visit us on our website:

www.compassionincaregiving.com

 For more visit our Instagram! @compassionincaregiving